THRUSHES 29 



50. Redbreast, robin [Erithacus rubecula melophilus (Har- 

 tert)]. Generally resident and common. The autumn and 

 spring birds of passage from and to N. Europe belong to the 

 paler-hued subspecies, E. rubecula rubecula. 



Bird. Length 5| in. Distinguished at all seasons by the 

 orange-red of the throat and breast which is margined blue- 

 grey. Upper-parts olive-brown. Belly white. The fledg- 

 lings have no red ; both their upper- and urider-parts are 

 mainly brown, spotted and streaked with buff. 



Nest. Place : in banks, or holes in trees and walls, and almost 

 any position that affords some cover. Material : dead leaves, 

 moss, grass, &c., lined usually with hair and a feather or so. 



Eggs. Usually 5-6. Dull white more or less spotted with 

 red. Av. size, *78 x '61 in. Laying begins March- April. 

 Broods 2-3. 



51. Nightingale [Luscinia megarhyncha megarhyncha (Brehm) ; 

 Daulias luscinia (Linnaeus)]. A summer visitor to mid and 

 south England and to the eastern borders of Wales. Rarely in 

 the northern counties. 



Bird. Length 6J in. Recognised by the russet-brown of 

 the upper-parts and the pale chest- 

 nut tail. Under-parts white, except 

 the forebreast and flanks, which 

 are greyish-brown. Sexes alike. 

 The young have the chestnut tail, 

 but the upper-parts are rufous with 

 buff spots, and the under-parts 

 chiefly white or huffish-white with 

 darker edgings forming more or less 

 defined bars. 



Nest. Place : usually on or near _^_ 

 the ground among herbage, in -p,. 



hedge bottoms and undergrowth 

 in woods. Material : usually dead leaves and grass lined with 

 finer material, grasses, leaves, &c. 



Eggs. Usually 4-6. Olive-brown. Rarely blue. "Some 

 clutches show distinct fine brown mottling, tending to form a 

 cap on a blue-green ground n (Jourdain). Av. size, *81 x *6l in. 

 Laying begins in May. One brood. 



(10) Family : Turdidce. Subfamily : Sylviince Warblers 



52. Whitethroat [Sylvia communis communis Latham ; Sylvia 

 cinerea Bechstein], Widely distributed summer visitor Bird 

 of passage. 



